Yet Mr. Petrilli leaves out two of the biggest factors explaining why our students are struggling: the increase in mental health issues and social media addiction. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has warned that social media is the driving force in students’ mental health issues, calling it “the defining public health crisis of our time.”As a public high school English teacher, I can attest to Dr. Murthy’s declaration. Unless you are in the classroom every day with students, it is difficult to understand the barriers that teachers face. Mr. Petrilli writes that we need leaders willing to say “education matters” and “achievement matters,” and “educators who are willing to act as if these simple propositions are true.” Educators want this too. We want it more than anything.

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Persons: Michael J, Petrilli, Vivek Murthy